Mexico lost a golden opportunity to advance to the World Baseball Classic final by falling 6-5 to Japan on Monday night.
They were up 3-0 and 5-3 for most of the game.
Ultimately, the two-time champs won on a walk-off double by Munetaka Murakami.
It was certainly not Randy Arozarena‘s fault, though.
The Cuban-born Mexican citizen did everything in his power to help Mexico advance.
He made catch after catch in left field, even erasing a sure home run.
At the plate, he went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
His home run-saving catch was the highlight of his night, as well as what he did immediately after that.
“Randy Arozarena just robbed a home run and is now signing autographs in the middle of the game. The term ‘legend’ gets thrown around a lot. Randy is a legend,” MLB personality Jared Carrabis tweeted.
Randy Arozarena just robbed a home run and is now signing autographs in the middle of the game. The term “legend” gets thrown around a lot. Randy is a legend. pic.twitter.com/1jUgImvS1Y
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) March 21, 2023
Upon making the catch, the Tampa Bay Rays star stood there with a serious face and not making a move, a signature celebration of his.
He really soaked in those applauses and, during a pitching change, he took some time to sign some autographs there, in left field!
The man is really a legend.
The funny thing is that he is not that good of a fielder, according to the numbers.
Last year with the Rays, he had -4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and -2 Outs Above Average (OAA).
That doesn’t take anything away from what he did in the tournament for his adopted country.
He closed his participation with a 1.507 OPS, a home run, six doubles, and nine RBI.
He is one of the reasons Mexico got so far in the WBC.
